Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, October 29, 2025

688 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Bluegrass Stockyard report →

light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $338.69/cwt -52.90 vs last sale · ≈ $1,788/hd at 528 lb · 57 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $351.49/cwt -21.15 vs last sale · ≈ $2,185/hd at 622 lb · 25 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $378.02/cwt -50.34 vs last sale · ≈ $1,938/hd at 513 lb · 21 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 688 707 765
Feeder cattle 556 561 626
Slaughter cattle 88 97 80
Replacement cattle 44 49 59

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Wednesday the feeder market was lower with an average quality offering. Good quality feeder steers and heifers were mostly 5.00 to 10.00 lower or greater in spots with a good supply and moderate demand, however the 500-550 lbs steers were steady with good supply. Recent declines in the futures market has limited buyers interest and the premiums they are willing to pay, while increasing the discounts on off colored and plainer quality cattle severely. Slaughter cows were 3.00 to 5.00 lower and slaughter bulls were steady with a good supply and moderate demand.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 fancy 370 2 470.00 $470.00 $1,739 -16.26
370–396 385 8 417.50–440.00 $427.07 $1,644 -5.43
415 415 1 440.00 $440.00 $1,826 +18.00
457–478 464 11 390.00–408.00 $396.59 $1,840 -25.09
502–521 511 18 370.00–373.00 $371.63 $1,899 +0.38
515–527 value added 523 3 415.00–417.00 $416.34 $2,177 +1.23
560 560 1 317.50 $317.50 $1,778 -75.80
551–595 572 11 345.00–370.00 $352.80 $2,018 -40.50
600–640 617 20 340.00–357.50 $344.36 $2,125 -6.47
640 value added 640 5 380.00 $380.00 $2,432 —
660 660 3 315.00 $315.00 $2,079 -61.12
705 705 1 310.00 $310.00 $2,186 -30.54
875 875 2 289.00–295.00 $292.00 $2,555 —
915 915 1 270.00 $270.00 $2,470 —
1120 1120 1 220.00 $220.00 $2,464 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 345 1 352.50 $352.50 $1,216 —
350–370 360 4 375.00–407.50 $390.80 $1,407 —
450–495 465 5 370.00–390.00 $377.94 $1,757 —
525–530 528 3 330.00–342.50 $334.14 $1,764 —
555–585 570 2 337.00–342.00 $339.43 $1,935 -8.90
625–640 633 2 302.50–310.00 $306.21 $1,938 -28.93
675 675 1 285.00 $285.00 $1,924 —
705 705 1 265.00 $265.00 $1,868 -35.00
785 785 1 245.00 $245.00 $1,923 -40.00
820 820 2 250.00 $250.00 $2,050 -35.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
395 395 1 322.50 $322.50 $1,274 —
451 451 3 320.00 $320.00 $1,443 +30.00
540 540 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,620 —
565 565 2 280.00–300.00 $290.00 $1,638 —
620 620 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,240 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
430 430 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,720 —
667–685 673 3 275.00–285.00 $281.61 $1,895 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 1 395.00 $395.00 $1,165 -12.50
318–345 332 7 400.00–415.00 $407.35 $1,352 -7.25
362–365 363 6 395.00–401.00 $397.01 $1,441 -9.27
405–442 427 20 347.50–370.00 $363.76 $1,553 -27.34
470–498 486 17 347.50–370.00 $361.18 $1,755 -17.85
500–549 528 57 330.00–350.00 $338.69 $1,788 -28.00
552–580 568 15 318.00–336.00 $327.82 $1,862 -29.27
606–623 612 8 308.00–310.00 $308.76 $1,890 -23.88
666–690 671 9 280.00–284.00 $283.09 $1,900 -35.70
830 830 1 270.00 $270.00 $2,241 -10.00
1065 1065 1 185.00 $185.00 $1,970 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
282–292 287 4 365.00–385.00 $374.83 $1,076 +14.66
305 305 1 385.00 $385.00 $1,174 +24.53
370–386 383 5 347.00–355.00 $351.88 $1,348 -37.26
413–445 424 14 318.00–345.00 $337.31 $1,430 -32.69
455–485 477 14 315.00–342.50 $334.45 $1,595 -21.91
535 535 2 320.00 $320.00 $1,712 -24.66
570–590 580 2 307.00–310.00 $308.53 $1,789 -22.07
600–633 620 7 270.00–290.00 $273.69 $1,697 —
670–695 683 2 265.00 $265.00 $1,810 -25.00
715 715 1 260.00 $260.00 $1,859 —
845 845 2 236.00 $236.00 $1,994 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310 310 1 340.00 $340.00 $1,054 —
360–395 378 2 272.00–305.00 $289.26 $1,093 -50.74
450–460 457 3 270.00–285.00 $274.93 $1,256 -55.07
512–540 533 8 270.00–285.00 $280.70 $1,496 -19.30
567–570 568 3 267.50–285.00 $273.35 $1,553 -16.65
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400 400 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,080 —
450 450 1 302.50 $302.50 $1,361 —
560 560 1 302.50 $302.50 $1,694 —
605–615 610 2 280.00–285.00 $282.48 $1,723 —
667 667 2 272.50 $272.50 $1,818 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270–280 275 2 442.50–445.00 $443.73 $1,220 —
355–375 fancy 368 3 440.00–455.00 $444.82 $1,637 -51.20
375 375 2 412.50 $412.50 $1,547 -40.00
410 fancy 410 1 440.00 $440.00 $1,804 -45.31
420 420 1 415.00 $415.00 $1,743 -17.26
455–485 470 2 381.00–397.50 $388.99 $1,828 -17.77
500–545 524 16 345.00–370.00 $352.75 $1,848 -21.18
570–580 575 3 342.50–350.00 $346.65 $1,993 -26.32
610–625 618 2 330.00–333.00 $331.52 $2,049 -18.07
660–690 678 6 260.00–270.00 $265.81 $1,802 -70.29
770 770 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,848 —
845 845 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,690 —
935 935 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,776 —
1020 1020 1 207.00 $207.00 $2,111 —
1095 1095 3 178.00 $178.00 $1,949 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260–285 270 3 392.50–405.00 $399.15 $1,078 —
305–330 318 2 360.00–390.00 $374.41 $1,191 -23.09
395 395 1 370.00 $370.00 $1,462 -15.00
421–442 429 7 380.00–390.00 $383.66 $1,646 -2.06
460–490 476 5 350.00–370.00 $358.70 $1,707 -19.40
540–546 545 9 329.00–341.00 $334.77 $1,824 -11.73
555–580 568 8 310.00–321.00 $316.82 $1,800 -18.00
635 635 2 267.50 $267.50 $1,699 -63.45
895 895 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,522 —
933 933 3 180.00 $180.00 $1,679 —
1020 1020 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,785 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280 280 1 355.00 $355.00 $994 —
322–345 329 4 315.00–325.00 $321.14 $1,057 —
400 400 1 320.00 $320.00 $1,280 +40.00
463–495 475 5 290.00–320.00 $309.62 $1,471 +29.84
515–542 533 3 260.00–270.00 $263.22 $1,403 —
560–595 575 3 275.00–295.00 $284.20 $1,634 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
420 420 1 310.00 $310.00 $1,302 —
460 460 2 300.00 $300.00 $1,380 —
667 667 2 260.00 $260.00 $1,734 —
770 770 2 235.00 $235.00 $1,810 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1085 1085 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 2,300.00 $2,300.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
970–1345 1091 85-90% 19 130.00–144.00 $135.88 $1,482 -3.25
795–1315 1101 85-90% 9 114.00–129.00 $123.24 $1,357 —
1135–1210 1173 85-90% 2 148.50–150.00 $149.23 $1,750 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1070–1400 1187 80-85% 5 136.00–140.00 $137.44 $1,631 —
1075–1370 1217 80-85% 17 142.50–158.00 $150.38 $1,830 -9.12
1170–1450 1310 80-85% 2 166.00–169.00 $167.34 $2,192 +22.52
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1355–1700 1468 75-80% 10 147.00–162.00 $155.10 $2,277 —
1425–1915 1670 75-80% 2 165.00–167.00 $166.15 $2,775 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1160–1540 1350 2 157.00–166.00 $160.87 $2,172 —
1620–1685 1653 2 202.00–205.50 $203.72 $3,367 —
1510–2060 1753 3 181.00–190.50 $186.06 $3,262 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
945–1310 1066 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 8 180.00–213.00 $192.34 $2,050

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1010 1010 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,900.00 $2,900.00
1010 1010 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 3,000.00 $3,000.00
1035–1255 1153 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 2,325.00–2,510.00 $2,434.71
985–1445 1286 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 2,360.00–2,600.00 $2,434.45
1325 1325 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,850.00 $1,850.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
895 895 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,085.00 $1,085.00
980 980 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,400.00 $2,400.00
945–1100 1007 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,700.00–2,175.00 $1,919.95
1155 1155 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,010.00 $2,010.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
910 910 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,325.00 $2,325.00
1010 1010 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,500.00 $2,500.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1175–1370 1263 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 3 2,750.00–3,375.00 $3,063.82 —
1305–1530 1420 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 5 3,500.00–3,550.00 $3,540.39 —

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Reading this report

What does "Medium and Large 1" mean?

USDA feeder grades describe frame size and muscle thickness, not quality of the individual animal. "Medium and Large" is the frame score; the number is muscle (1 = heaviest muscled). "Medium and Large 1–2" pens mix both muscle scores — common across the Southeast.

What is $/cwt?

Dollars per hundredweight — per 100 lb of animal. A 500-lb calf at $450/cwt brings 5 × $450 = $2,250. Lighter cattle usually bring more per cwt but less per head.

Why are some prices per head?

Bred cows, cow-calf pairs, and some replacement classes sell by the head, not by weight. We show those exactly as USDA reports them — a $/head figure is never converted into $/cwt on this site.

Where do these numbers come from?

From the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's Livestock Market News — federal reporters at the sale. We publish each report in full and link the official USDA document at the top of the page.